Criticism Continues to Flow After PSI Cadres En masse Enter FOLU Net Sink

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The decision of the Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, to include several cadres of the Indonesian Solidarity Party or PSI in the Operation Management Office team for Indonesia’s Forestry and Other Land Use or FOLU Net Sink 2030 continues to draw criticism. This time, the criticism comes from a member of the House of Representatives whose political party is in the same coalition as PSI.

The criticism was voiced, among others, by a senior politician of the Golkar Party, who is also a member of Commission IV of the House of Representatives, Firman Soebagyo. In fact, the Golkar Party and the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) are in the same camp. Both support the Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka ticket in the 2024 Presidential Election and are now part of the coalition of political parties backing the Prabowo-Gibran administration.

"This damages the system and governance structure of the government as well as governmental institutions. Governmental institutions seem to become political tools or instruments to achieve certain objectives that contradict the law," said Firman, Saturday (8/3/2025).

The Operation Management Office Indonesia’s Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink 2030 team was established by the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Forestry. The team aims to facilitate emission reductions and climate change control by the year 2030.

With such tasks, Firman explained, team members should clearly be individuals experienced in forestry conservation and environmental issues. It is not enough to simply place party cadres, especially if they lack a clear background and capacity related to the functioning of the organization.

Furthermore, Firman stated that Raja Juli's actions were also deemed misleading. This is because the position of civil servants (ASN) seemed to be undermined. The placement of individuals in positions did not utilize a meritocracy system. Instead, Raja Juli opted for cadres from PSI, which is also the party he is affiliated with.

"State civil servants (ASN) should have opportunities, but they are easily displaced by groups of party cadres who are not necessarily professional. Recruitment systems in government like this have become prevalent in recent times," said Firman.

Therefore, Firman hopes that President Prabowo can pay attention to the problem. Similar cases should not be seen as something common in the government employee recruitment system.

"I ask President Prabowo to firmly prohibit and immediately determine his stance so as not to add to the public and students' frustration lately," Firman emphasized.

Moreover, the monthly salary that the Indonesia's FOLU Net team will receive is quite large as stated in the Decree of the Minister of Forestry Number 32 of 2025. Each amount of salary includes the Person in Charge of IDR 50 million, Deputy Person in Charge of IDR 40 million, Expert Advisory Board of IDR 25 million, Chief Executive of IDR 30 million, Daily Chair I and II of IDR 30 million, Secretary of IDR 30 million, Head of Division of IDR 30 million, Members of IDR 20 million, and Staff of IDR 8 million.

Of the total 43 people on the Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 team, five are PSI cadres. PSI Deputy Chairman Andy Budiman received the highest position, namely the Expert Advisory Board. Other cadres such as Kokok Dirgantoro, Sigit Widodo, Yus Ariyanto, Suci Mayang Sari, hold member positions in various fields within the organization.

Before Firman, Deputy Chairman of Commission IV of the DPR from the PDI-P Faction Alex Indra Lukman also criticized the large number of PSI cadres in the team. He questioned the mechanism for appointing PSI cadres to the team. Furthermore, he requested that the entire process of determining the team be opened to the public. This is related to Raja Juli's position as Secretary General of PSI.

"We do not mean to doubt the competence of the personnel appointed, but the public needs to know who selected them and the process," said Alex.

According to the plan, said Alex, the Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 team program will be funded through a Norway Contribution grant through the Environmental Fund Management Agency. For that, he reminded that the funds should be spent more on financing the program. Not just spent on honorariums for team members.

Alex also observed the personnel filling the team and its honorarium system. He assessed that Raja Juli was not in the process of realizing good governance and clean government. This was based on his observations of the team personnel from the previous period, most of whom were structural officials at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and pro-environmental academics.

Then, Alex urged Raja Juli to show transparency in determining the personnel on the team.

"If he does not dare to be open, the public will certainly judge the decision of Forestry Minister Raja Juli as nothing more than sharing the cake of power among colleagues, which is certainly far from the spirit of Astacita of President Prabowo Subianto," he said.

The spokesperson for the Central Leadership Council (DPP) of PSI, Agus Mulyono Herlambang, did not deny the inclusion of PSI cadres in the structure of the Indonesia's FOLU Net Sink 2030 team. This is in accordance with the statement of the Ministry of Forestry's Public Relations regarding the team personnel consisting of ASN, retired ASN, and external parties to the ministry who can help the team run the program.

"The Minister (Raja Juli) appointed several non-party professionals and professionals from the party to strengthen the team. This has also happened in the past," said Agus.

Regarding the team's budget, Agus also reiterated the statement of the Ministry of Forestry's Public Relations which stated that the funding did not come from the State Budget (APBN). The funding was entirely carried out by donors or partner countries in accordance with legal regulations. Therefore, the APBN is not burdened.

On the other hand, Agus also guaranteed that PSI cadres whose names are included in the Decree of the Minister of Forestry No. 32/2025 have capacity and integrity. The cadres are in secretarial support positions. Later they will assist the minister's work in the field of FOLU administration. He also emphasized the matter of job suitability.

"Because I have been helping the Minister (Raja Juli) for a long time, I can immediately start working hard," said Agus.